Adu-Boahene Arrest: Attorney General Says Former Signals Bureau Boss Embezzled $7 Million
- The former Director General of the National Signals Bureau has been accused of embezzling $7 million meant for a defence contract
- Kwabena Adu-Boahene is alleged to have kept approximately GH¢49 million from the National Signals Bureau’s funding for himself
- The Ghanaian Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dominic Ayine, provided an update on the embezzlement case on March 24
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The immediate past Director General of the National Signals Bureau, Kwabena Adu-Boahene, was arrested after allegedly embezzling $7 million meant for a cyber defence system contract.
Addressing the press on March 24, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dominic Ayine said there was evidence that Adu-Boahene transferred large amounts of money to his personal account.
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The cyber defence system contract, valued at $7 million, was intended to bolster Ghana’s cyber security capacity.
However, the Attorney General said the funds allocated for the project were allegedly diverted for the DG's personal use.
“In his capacity as Director of the National Signals Bureau, Mr. Adu-Boahene on January 30, 2020, signed a contract on behalf of the Government of Ghana and the National Security on one hand and on the other hand, an Israeli company named RLC Holdings Limited. The contract was for the purchase of a cyber defence system software at a price of $7 million."
“On February 6, 2020, he then transferred an initial amount of GH¢27,100,000 from the National Signals Bureau account at Fidelity Bank to a private BNC account at UMB. Official documentation on the transfer reveals that the amount was for the payment of cyber defence system software. He transferred the money to his private company.”
In all, Adu-Boahene is alleged to have transferred approximately GH¢49 million from the National Signals Bureau’s funds into his accounts, falsely justifying these transactions as payments for the cyber defence systems.
An initial payment of GH¢9.5 million, about $1.75 million, was reportedly transferred for payment for the defence system.
Adu-Boahene and his wife acquired several landed properties in Ghana and abroad following the alleged embezzlement.
The former DG and his wife are still in detention and other suspects are also being pursued for prosecution to commence.
When was Adu-Boahene arrested?
Adu-Boahene was detained by the Economic and Organised Crime Office on March 20 at Kotoka International Airport upon his arrival from London on a British Airways flight.
According to the state, the former National Signals Bureau boss is believed to hold multiple passports, including two service passports and potentially a foreign passport.
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The Economic and Organised Crime Office also confirmed that his wife holds a British passport.
Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem-Sai earlier gave assurances that Adu Boahene was being treated well in custody.
Other corruption-related actions by the state
YEN.com.gh also reported that the former Public Procurement Authority Board Chairman, Professor Akumfi was detained by the National Investigative Bureau over an ongoing probe into financial dealings when he was the Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
Former Minister for Railway Development Joe Ghartey was also invited by the National Intelligence Bureau over the Ghana Sky Train project. Under Ghartey, Ghana signed a concession agreement with Africa Investment (Ai) Sky Train Consortium in 2019, with an estimated cost of $3 billion.
However, the proposed project never took off, and concerns were raised about its feasibility and financing. In 2022, the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund disclosed that it had invested $2 million in the project, leading to an official investigation into the controversial matter.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
